Frankie's Ladies Day To Remember

Frankie's Ladies Day To Remember

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Michael Jordan, Usain Bolt, Frankie Dettori - does not sound out of place does it?

Legendary Italian jockey Frankie Dettori - very much a household name with most, notched up four consecutive victories on Ladies Day at Royal Ascot, which was rounded off with back-to-back victories in the Gold Cup on Stradivarius.

If it did not already, the four-timer asserted Dettori as one of the finest sportsmen of his era, leaving him as arguably the closest thing to the great Lester Piggott, who unveiled another statue at Ascot commemorating his career in the saddle before racing began.

We might be unveiling a Dettori replica in a few years time, who was on a roll after his victory in the feature staying contest, and was sniffing another place in the record books with victory in the final two races.

Turgenev - trained by John Gosden, was as big as 25/1 in the morning, but with bookmakers left scrambling over their potential liabilities and mass payouts to accumulator holders, he was sent off no bigger than 3/1 favourite.

Two lengths clear at the furlong pole, Harry Bentley spoiled the Dettori party on Ralph Beckett's Biometric as he came firing out the pack to save the bookies humiliation and categorical embarrassment in the end.

Questionnaire never fired in the finale, meaning the magnificent seven of 1996 was not to be followed with a sensational-six at the Royal meeting in 2019, but Mr Ascot was certainly not complaining.

The 48-year-old opened his account for the day when Simon Crisford's A'Ali took control of the Norfolk Stakes, before Dettori took the wheel as the meeting's leading jockey when Sangarius flashed home in the Hampton Court Stakes.

At this point, the bookies were trembling and the punters were beyond belief, that they could have potentially have bought a ticket to one of the most historical days in the sport.

The impossible looked very much on after Star Catcher landed the Ribblesdale Stakes - in the colours the Italianman has endured so much success on since his return to the sport on the likes of Golden Horn and Cracksman.

Stradivarius was as magnificent as ever despite a little trouble in running, but proved he is the best stayer on the planet with another comfortable win on route to another possible million pound bonus.

Despite plenty of debate, the legendary jockey has showed no signs of stopping anytime soon, but his four victories at Ascot on Thursday only represent half the story to winning punters.

Sport and racing need personalities and people that stand out, and aside from his physical stature, it is easy to pick out Dettori even in the completely grass-covered parade ring pre and post-race, or the hedges he quite happily hikes through.

Many people clueless about form and statistics simply following his rides, and looks like genius' at the end of the day.

The point is; long may his success continue as he is a credit to the sport and an outstanding role model to young upcoming jockeys, along with a real flag bearer for British racing and a symbol known to all across the world.

Just like Messi and Ronaldo in football, and Nadal and Federer in tennis, we should grace that we live in the same time as Frankie Dettori in racing.

A true legend of the sport, with every medal possible in his trophy cabinet.